Makati city: The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has announced that 3G networks are on track to be completely phased out by the end of September, as efforts continue to eliminate illegal activities linked to older mobile technologies. In a recent press conference held in Makati City, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda confirmed the progress made by telecommunications companies in this initiative.

According to Philippines News Agency, DICT Secretary Aguda stated that DITO Telecommunity and Globe Telecom have already phased out their 3G networks, while Smart Communications is set to complete the process by the end of the month. The phase-out is part of a larger strategy to reduce the use of IMSI catchers, which hackers and scammers exploit to obtain cellphone details and deceive users.

DITO currently does not operate a 2G network, and both Globe and Smart have pledged to work with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the DICT to phase out 2G networks as well. Secretary Aguda emphasized the collective effort, expressing hope that online transactions would become safer by the holiday season due to these measures.

Prior to the press conference, Aguda, along with Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) Executive Director Aboy Paraiso and other government officials, met with representatives from telecom companies and social media platforms. The meeting aimed to secure support for enforcing measures against online harms, including misinformation, illegal item sales, and child exploitation materials.

Paraiso noted the government's satisfaction with the agreements reached with telecom companies and social media platforms, highlighting their prompt cooperation. There has been significant progress in the rapid response to take-down requests and blocking efforts from telcos, as well as improvements in handling lawful orders to block scam numbers and gather information on illegal activities involving mobile numbers.